Shubman Gill Praises Nitish Kumar Reddy Ahead of Second Test vs West Indies. Indian captain Shubman Gill has lauded all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, ahead of the second Test against the West Indies, scheduled to begin on October 10 at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Shubman Gill backed Reddy to play a key role in India’s home Test matches, stating it would be unfair for the talented all-rounder to feature only in overseas games. Since making his international debut during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25, Reddy has established himself as a vital seam all-rounder for the team. He grabbed headlines with a century in the fourth Test in Melbourne and finished the series with 298 runs and five wickets across five matches.
Reddy was also included in India’s squad for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 but played only two games before being sidelined with a knee injury, scoring 45 runs and taking three wickets during the tour.
In the first Test against the West Indies, Reddy did not get a chance to bat after India declared at 448/5, and he bowled just four overs in the match.
“It would be unfair to play him only overseas”: Shubman Gill on Nitish Kumar Reddy
Ahead of the second Test against the West Indies, Shubman Gill expressed strong support for Nitish Kumar Reddy’s inclusion in the Indian Test squad. The Indian vice-captain emphasized the importance of giving Reddy ample opportunities in home conditions, rather than limiting him to overseas matches.
“We often face a shortage of third and fourth seamers on tracks that assist pacers abroad. It would be unfair to play him only overseas. Especially since we won’t be playing in foreign conditions much over the next one and a half years, restricting him to overseas games would mean fewer opportunities,”Shubman Gill said.
Highlighting Reddy’s all-round abilities, Shubman Gill added, “Backing a player who can bowl 10-15 overs a day and also contribute with the bat is crucial. We saw his batting in Australia—there’s definitely a lot of talent and potential in him.”
Gill also pointed out that the team plans to give Reddy enough match time in Tests and might adjust his batting position depending on the situation. “We want to give him as much game time as possible, especially in India. Depending on the match scenario, we’ll consider whether he bats higher or lower in the order,” he explained.
The second Test between India and the West Indies will begin on October 10 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. India leads the two-match series 1-0 after a dominant innings-and-140-run victory in the opening Test.
